Tsurugizan Taniemon (劔山 谷右エ門; January 20, 1852 – November 21, 1910) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from…Tsurugizan Taniemon (劔山 谷右エ門; January 20, 1852 – November 21, 1910) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kamojima, Oe District (now Awa, Tokushima Prefecture). His highest rank was ōzeki and he is one of only two wrestlers from this prefecture to have reached this rank, being the second overall and the first promoted since Eshimagata's promotion in 1778, 108 years earlier.
Baron Iwasaki Yanosuke (岩崎 彌之助; February 8, 1851 – March 25, 1908) was a Japanese banker, businessman, investor, and…Baron Iwasaki Yanosuke (岩崎 彌之助; February 8, 1851 – March 25, 1908) was a Japanese banker, businessman, investor, and politician. After his brother Yataro's death in 1885, he succeeded to the presidency of Mitsubishi, one of Japan's largest conglomerates (zaibatsu). He served as the 4th Governor of the Bank of Japan (BOJ). He was created a Baron in 1900, and he was a member of Japan's House of Peers.
Hitachiyama Torakichi (Japanese: 常陸山 虎吉; born in 1850 as Isoarashi Torakichi (五十嵐 虎吉, Isoarashi Torakichi)), also known…Hitachiyama Torakichi (Japanese: 常陸山 虎吉; born in 1850 as Isoarashi Torakichi (五十嵐 虎吉, Isoarashi Torakichi)), also known as Dewanoumi Unemon (出羽ノ海 運右エ門, Dewanoumi Unemon), was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ibaraki prefecture. He wrestled for the Hamakaze and Dewanoumi stables. His highest rank was Maegashira 1.
Baron Maejima Hisoka (前島 密; 24 January 1835 – 27 April 1919), born Ueno Fusagorō (上野 房五郎), was a Japanese statesman…Baron Maejima Hisoka (前島 密; 24 January 1835 – 27 April 1919), born Ueno Fusagorō (上野 房五郎), was a Japanese statesman, politician, and businessman in Meiji-period Japan. Maejima founded the Japanese postal service, and is known as Yūbin Seido no Chichi (郵便制度の父), or "Father of the Postal System".
Kanagaki Robun (仮名垣 魯文) was the pen name of Nozaki Bunzō (野崎 文蔵) (9 February 1829 – 8 November 1894), a Japanese author…Kanagaki Robun (仮名垣 魯文) was the pen name of Nozaki Bunzō (野崎 文蔵) (9 February 1829 – 8 November 1894), a Japanese author and journalist.
Yamamoto Kakuma (山本 覚馬; February 25, 1828 – December 28, 1892) was a Japanese samurai of the late Edo period, who went…Yamamoto Kakuma (山本 覚馬; February 25, 1828 – December 28, 1892) was a Japanese samurai of the late Edo period, who went on to become an educator and politician in the Meiji era.
Count Sano Tsunetami (佐野 常民; 28 December 1822 – 12 December 1902) was a Japanese statesman and founder of the Japanese…Count Sano Tsunetami (佐野 常民; 28 December 1822 – 12 December 1902) was a Japanese statesman and founder of the Japanese Red Cross Society. His son, Admiral Sano Tsuneha, was a leading figure in the establishment of the Scout Association of Japan.
Takadaya Kahei (高田屋 嘉兵衛) was a Japanese merchant credited with transforming the trading outpost of Hakodate in Japan's…Takadaya Kahei (高田屋 嘉兵衛) was a Japanese merchant credited with transforming the trading outpost of Hakodate in Japan's northern island of Hokkaidō into a thriving city. He is also recognised for opening the northern Etorofu sea route to the Kuril island fisheries and helping settle territorial disputes with Russia over the islands. Takadaya Kahei was born to a farming family, but left his birthplace when was 13, to work in Kobe as a sailor. He earned sufficient money to purchase his own Kitamaebune trading ship and sailed to Hakodate in the summer of 1796. He set up a business in the town, which at the time was a small trading outpost. He is reputed to have made a fortune through trade by importing sake, salt, rice and other staples to Ezochi (the Japanese area of Hokkaidō) and exporting herring, salmon and kelp to Honshū. He later developed trading routes to the Kuril Islands and operated many fisheries around Nemuro, a town on Hokkaidō's east coast. Takadaya is also known for his services in developing Hakodate. He repaired streets, cultivated the land and forested trees for lumber. After a destructive fire in 1806 he provided food, clothing and new housing for victims of the disaster. He also paid for workmen from Osaka to sink new wells and donated water pumps for fire fighting. He acquired a status as one of the most famous merchants in the era for his role in the Golovnin Incident. In 1812, during a dispute over the Kuril Island territorial waters, Takadaya Kahei was captured by Petr Rikord, captain of the Russian navy sloop in retaliation for the Japanese capture of explorer Vasily Golovnin. Along with his four sailors who were also captured on board the Kanze-maru, Takadaya was confined to Kamchatka for several months, his release finally secured through diplomacy. During his imprisonment he learned the Russian language and later worked with Vasily Golovnin to settle the Kuril Islands territorial border between the two countries. At the age of 50, Takadaya returned to his birthplace of Awaji Island. He died in 1827. A festival is held in Hakodate every year in late July to commemorate Takadaya Kahei.
Eimi Naruse (成瀬 瑛美, Naruse Eimi) is a Japanese singer and voice actress who is a former member of Dempagumi.inc. Born…Eimi Naruse (成瀬 瑛美, Naruse Eimi) is a Japanese singer and voice actress who is a former member of Dempagumi.inc. Born in Kōriyama, she switched from having interests in manga to music as a teenager, and moved to Akihabara where she worked at a maid café before joining Dempagumi.inc. In addition to her work with the idol group, she has done some solo activities, including appearing in the TV drama OL desu ga, Kyabajō Hajimemashita and voicing the lead character of Star Twinkle PreCure, Hikaru Hoshina/Cure Star.
Izumi Kirihara (桐原 いづみ, Kirihara Izumi) is a Japanese manga artist. She is the author and illustrator for the manga…Izumi Kirihara (桐原 いづみ, Kirihara Izumi) is a Japanese manga artist. She is the author and illustrator for the manga series Hitohira, the first of her works to be adapted into an anime television series.
Satoko Kiyuduki (きゆづき さとこ) is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator from Fukui Prefecture. She is best known for her…Satoko Kiyuduki (きゆづき さとこ) is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator from Fukui Prefecture. She is best known for her work on the Dept. Heaven series of games and her yonkoma manga GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class and Shoulder-a-Coffin Kuro.
Yoh Yoshida (吉田 羊, Yoshida Yoh; born February 3 in Kurume, Fukuoka) is a Japanese actress who is represented by the…Yoh Yoshida (吉田 羊, Yoshida Yoh; born February 3 in Kurume, Fukuoka) is a Japanese actress who is represented by the talent agency Oranku.
Gyōki (行基; 668–749) was a Japanese Buddhist priest of the Nara period, born in Ōtori county, Kawachi Province (now…Gyōki (行基; 668–749) was a Japanese Buddhist priest of the Nara period, born in Ōtori county, Kawachi Province (now Sakai, Osaka), the son of Koshi no Saichi. According to one theory, one of his ancestors was of Korean descent. Gyōki became a monk at Asuka-dera, a temple in Nara, at the age of 15 and studied under Dōshō as one of his first pupils. Gyōki studied Yogachara (唯識), a core doctrine of Hosso, at Yakushi-ji. In 704, he returned to his birthplace to make his home into a temple, then started to travel around Japan to preach to commoners and help the poor. He formed a volunteer group to help the poor mainly in the Kansai region, building 49 monasteries and nunneries that also functioned as hospitals for the poor. Gyōki and his followers roamed the countryside, teaching common people about Buddhism, building temples that were more like community centers and organizing irrigation and other public works projects. Since regulations at the time strictly prohibited activities by priests outside their monastic compounds, his travelling around the country made him a non-official, private priest, not registered through the Office of Priestly Affairs (僧綱, Sōgō). Gyōki and his followers were persecuted by the government, but his popularity and his administrative skill in public works later earned him a pardon. In 745 he became the first priest to be given the rank of Daisōjō.
Mariko Gotō (後藤 まりこ, Gotō Mariko) (born February 22, 1982, in Izumiōtsu, Osaka) is a Japanese singer, lyricist…Mariko Gotō (後藤 まりこ, Gotō Mariko) (born February 22, 1982, in Izumiōtsu, Osaka) is a Japanese singer, lyricist, composer and actress. Little is known about Gotō‘s early years and formative influences. Gotō is not a Japanese idol. The media often categorizes Gotō as an "alt-idol," which does not accurately describe her past and current projects. Gotō’s first band was dubbed "Osaka's Twisted Judy and Mary," highlighting the influence of the older, established Japanese punk group, Judy and Mary on her music. In 2001 she formed the noise rock and punk band Usagi (うさぎ) with three friends from Osaka. She sang and played guitar. After Usagi broke up in 2003, she formed the punk jazz group Midori together with Usagi's bassist, Yoshifumi Kuwano. Midori released three full-length albums, five EPs, and a single. After its dissolution, Gotō focused on her solo career as a musician, as well as a stage, film, and television drama actress. In 2013, she wrote the lyrics for and sang the opening song of the anime Flowers of Evil which is titled "宇宙人" (ep. 4–6, "Aku no Hana -Nakamura Sawa-"). Her song "Sound of Me" was used as the ending theme of the drama Taberudake, where she played the lead role. In May 2016, it was reported that she decided to quit the music industry. She returned under the alias DJ510Mariko on December 24, 2018 with an EP, DEMO. On December 11, 2019 she released her 1st album "Loved by Gainsborough" on her label "nixzm." Gotō also performs and records as a solo "band", GotoMariko acoustic violence POP (後藤まりこアコースティックviolence POP).
Sora Izumikawa (イズミカワ ソラ, Izumikawa Sora; born February 14, 1971), is a Japanese artist, singer-songwriter, voice…Sora Izumikawa (イズミカワ ソラ, Izumikawa Sora; born February 14, 1971), is a Japanese artist, singer-songwriter, voice actress, composer and producer currently based on Japan. Also Ex-CEO for Dog-Rights Co., Ltd.
Hijiri Kuwano (桑野聖, Kuwano Hijiri; born February 12) is a Japanese violinist, composer and arranger. Kuwano began…Hijiri Kuwano (桑野聖, Kuwano Hijiri; born February 12) is a Japanese violinist, composer and arranger. Kuwano began taking violin lessons at age six and studied under Yonosuke Ishii, Shizuko Ishii and Chikashi Tanaka. While attending Tokyo University of the Arts, he performed as a guest concertmaster at Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra and Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra. Before graduating from the university, he became interested in playing non-classical music and started performing with Toshihito Nakanishi, who inspired him in many ways. Kuwano also started a career as composer, when he produced an album published together with a photobook by Kenji Ishikawa, Moonlight Blue. Kuwano handled string arrangements for albums and movies for Kome Kome Club and began his career as arranger as well. Kuwano worked on recordings, concerts with various artists, movies and video games as a soloist and as the "Hijiri Kuwano strings group". He is credited in Whisper of the Heart, Shall We Dance, Nobody Knows, Kind of Love, Melody of Oblivion, Good Luck Girl!, Final Fantasy XIII and numerous other productions as a performer, composer and arranger. He is also known as the violin player in the battle theme "Blinded by Light" in Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIII (composed by Masashi Hamauzu). He works closely with Hamauzu and Imeruat (Masashi Hamauzu and Mina) as a supporting artist. He toured with Imeruat to Europe and Hong Kong and performed several pieces on "α" Clock: World Time, Sony Global website (composed by Masashi Hamauzu).
Mari Ozawa (小沢真理, Ozawa Mari) is a Japanese josei manga artist from Sapporo, Hokkaido, who writes primarily for Kiss…Mari Ozawa (小沢真理, Ozawa Mari) is a Japanese josei manga artist from Sapporo, Hokkaido, who writes primarily for Kiss and Young You. She won the 1995 Kodansha Manga Award for shōjo for Sekai de Ichiban Yasashii Ongaku.